Thursday, June 18, 2015

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Season 1, Episode 5: Arabella

War – a massive battlefield where English and French
forces clash. In a fort Jonathan is called on repeatedly to use his magic to
aid in the fort’s defences with his friend the major repeatedly yelling “Merlin
Merlin, problem! Merlin” – until he is killed. The attacker then comes for
Jonathan and the wizard snaps and kills the man with magic

Really impressive, shiny magic. But something he said he
wouldn’t do

He returns to England, apparently after the war and writes his book as he
promised Arabella he would (abandoning practical magic). She is loving and he
is clearly haunted – as we see in flashbacks back to the conflict (and the
major isn’t dead, merely inconvenienced).

Wellington remarks the war is over – but also pointedly
asks “what do you think they’ll do with us now?”

In the present Arabella illustrates his book and they
continue to be loving even as Jonathon’s pain is barely hidden and Arabella’s
love clear.

Meanwhile Norrell berates his publisher for daring to
publish Jonathon’s book. The publisher isn’t impressed, he’s a publisher and he
has no truck with Norrell’s “orthodoxy.” Or his threats. Or drama.

Norrell and Lascells both climb on their respective
crosses, whining about how could Jonathon do such a thing and alas, poor
England. Childermass’s facial expressions are just awesome through all this.

When Norrell takes his concerns to Sir Walter, they’re
worried because the Raven King is being used as a symbol by Luddites and the
Swing Riots and they even believe he is coming back. Norrell thinks this is
nonsense- but seizes on something Sir Walter fears – rioting poor destroying
machines that cost them their jobs – as an excuse to push opinion against the
Raven King and Jonathon’s book.

The Gentleman’s plotting begins – a man riding through
the snow hears bells and sees the fake!Arabella struggling through the snow,
though she doesn’t come when he calls her. The man goes to tell Jonathon. Of
course, Jonathan insists Arabella never left home.

Jonathan and Arabella settle into quiet, contented
domesticity and hope to have a child.

Meanwhile Lady Pole has a terrible nightmare in Honeycut
and Segunsus’s institution – she warns them something terrible is going to
happen to Jonathan. Of course, she starts babbling making no sense.

As she screams her warning about Jonathan not making the
bargain, Stephen knocks on Arabella’s door and takes her away “to see her
friend.”

The next day, Jonathan realises Arabella is missing.
Jonathan uses magic (thoroughly scaring the maid) to find Arabella still in hr
night clothes being hastily sped away on a carriage. Jonathan gathers a crowd
and they lead a search party (seeming to ignore the scrying he just did?). Real
Arabella is taken to fairyland, hurried along by Stephen– and Fake Arabella
returns to Jonathan and makes him say he accepts her as his wife and that he
loves her.

Real Arabella is taken to Lost Hope to meet The Gentleman
– and tells her Jonathan sold her in exchange for a piece of wood
(fake!Arabella). Lady Pole is also there and coherent. Arabella is enchanted
and dances with The Gentleman while Lady Poke tries to scream to her.

Honeycut and Segundus think she sleeps peacefully, but
Honeycut remembers one of the stories she told while babbling and he believes
there is more to Lady Pole’s babbling than just babbling.

The next day Jonathon wakes to find fake!Arabella
apparently dead. He calls Henry, Arabella’s brother and he collapses in tears,
with Jonathan desperately trying to be properly reserved. Of course part of
that is because Jonathan refuses to grieve – he’s going to bring her back to
life, regardless of Henry’s objection.

Norrell returns home and Childermass expresses his disapproval
of his continued attempts to sabotage Jonathon’s book and also tells Norrell
that Arabella is dead. Jonathan writes to Norrell asking his advice on how he
resurrected Lady Pole – and promises never to use magic again. Lascelles doesn’t
see this as necessary since the rumour mill that John used magic to kill his
wife is already grinding away and is reputation will quickly be in tatters
(especially if he performs a gruesome resurrection). Childermass is thoroughly
contemptuous about how mercenary and callous Lascelles is – and appeals to
Norrell while Lascelles just demands the servants be removed. Norrell agrees
and Lascelles, uninterrupted, speaks further to push Norrell against Jonathan,
the nasty manipulative weasel.

Jonathon continues to use the magic to resurrect Arabella
and succeeds in summoning The Gentleman and Stephen (though they remain cloaked
– but Stephen still points out his success which rather amusingly punctures The
Gentleman’s mockery). The Gentleman continues to mock and Stephen blatantly
disapprovals and refuses to take part in his petty torments.

Jonathan continues to be torn and desperate to try and
bring Arabella back – and continuing to fail and continues to be Norrell for
help and Norrell continues to ignore him. Henry tries to reason with him as
Jonathon becomes more desperate – trying to convince Jonathon to let go… and
Jonathan breaks down in tears.

He makes his goodbyes to Arabella and they have a funeral
for her, led by Henry (a vicar).

Stephen is sent to break the news to Lady Pole who
insists on referring to Arabella as far away rather than dead. While he is
there Segundus and Honeycut ask if they can provoke Lady Pole to babble in
riddles so they can look for the patterns behind it which Honeycut thinks he’s
discovered – Stephen, of course, refuses. Segundus decides to go ahead anyway –
since he sees the same magic on Steven as is on Lady Pole.

But Lady Pole insists – for her freedom, for Arabella’s
freedom even as Stephen protests – he points out Arabella, enchanted, is happy
about both of them have survived – and they should accept their lives and be thankful.
Lady Pole tells him his mind has been poisoned. They guide her through the
fairy tales she tells, recognises the patterns and shifts of these tales being
told from the fairy’s point of view – and Honeycut asks to write to Jonathan
for help. She agrees.

They also get a new inmate for the asylum – Vinculus who
gives a message to Stephen “name the slave” which is cryptic but Steven is,
understandably, offended.

Jonathan returns to London and to publishing his book.
More, Jonathan intends to accelerate his magical knowledge and power to try and
match the magic of legends and the Raven King – though Sir Walter now has
considerable reservations. And the Raven King – though Sir Walter now has
considerable reservations. Jonathon becomes irate and finally asks Sir Walter
why he thinks Lady Pole went mad – he is visibly shaken.

Sir Walter goes to check with Norrell, bringing one of
Arabella’s picture of the Kings Roads behind the mirrors and Norrell says dire
things about Jonathon destroying the country and magic. He and Lascelles call
for the magical court – and for a law against the Raven King. Childermass
remains intensely disapproving.

Childermass goes to see Jonathan – being spotted despite
literally turning into shadow. He has his talents, does Childermass. Jonathon
shows Childermass his pictures of the King’s Road – and acknowledges him as a
magician and they discuss the Kings Roads, why they have recently been opened;
he also encourages Childermass to join him as pupil and assistant, not servant.
Childermass seems genuinely flattered – but refuses. He also has an interesting
intention: should Norrell win he will leave Norrell’s service and take up John’s
cause. Of course, should Jonathan win, he will take up Norrell’s – then there
will always be 2 magicians with differing opinions.

Childermass warns Jonathan that Norrell is trying to stop
his book – and Jonathan is enraged, running through the mirror to Norrell’s
study where he rampages around. He rages and berates Norrell, shifting to
asking why he wouldn’t help save Arabella even as he is dragged from the house.
He continues to rampage outside and is picked up by the watchmen and taken to
the prison.

But not just for breaking into the house – he is accused
of trying to murder Arabella by witchcraft. Jonathan is determined to summon a
fairy… and seems to realise to deal with the fae you need to be insane and to
wander e wilderness even as the Major tries to use Wellington’s influence to
have him released. Jonathon needs no such help – there is a reflection in the
water of his cell.

I’m intrigued by Childermass and want more of his
secrets. At this point I would lay odds on him actually being the Raven King

I’m not fond of Arabella being used to target Jonathon or
the Gentleman’s infatuation with her. Couldn’t have had him intrigued by the
wizard Jonathon rather than being romantically infatuated by Arabella? Rather
than make Arabella a damsel?

Still, I am hopeful that Lady Pole, Arabella and Stephen can come together to
defeat him

I wonder at Stephen, has he been converted and convinced
by The Gentleman? Or has he fully accepted his helplessness? Is he merely more
accustomed to having to accept things the way they are rather than the way he
would want them to be? Is it a little of both?